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A conserved spider silk domain acts as a molecular switch that controls fibre assembly

Author

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  • Franz Hagn

    (Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM) and,
    Institute for Advanced Study, 85747 Garching, Germany)

  • Lukas Eisoldt

    (Lehrstuhl für Biomaterialien, Fakultät für Angewandte Naturwissenschaften, Universität Bayreuth)

  • John G. Hardy

    (Lehrstuhl für Biomaterialien, Fakultät für Angewandte Naturwissenschaften, Universität Bayreuth)

  • Charlotte Vendrely

    (Lehrstuhl für Biomaterialien, Fakultät für Angewandte Naturwissenschaften, Universität Bayreuth
    Present address: Université de Cergy-Pontoise, 95302 Cergy-Pontoise cedex, France.)

  • Murray Coles

    (Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology)

  • Thomas Scheibel

    (Lehrstuhl für Biomaterialien, Fakultät für Angewandte Naturwissenschaften, Universität Bayreuth)

  • Horst Kessler

    (Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM) and,
    Institute for Advanced Study, 85747 Garching, Germany)

Abstract

Spider silk's dual identity Many proteins form fibrillar structures at high concentrations, but spider silk proteins, with highly repetitive segments flanked by non-repetitive (NR) terminal domains, behave differently. They are remarkably soluble when stored at high concentration yet can convert to extremely sturdy fibres on demand. The molecular mechanism that makes this possible is not yet clear, but two structural studies in this issue provide new clues. Askarieh et al. present the 1.7 Å X-ray crystal structure of the N-terminal domain of a dragline spidroin from the nursery web spider Euprosthenops australis. The structure shows how this highly conserved domain can regulate silk assembly by preventing premature aggregation of spidroins and triggering polymerization as the pH falls along the silk extrusion duct. Hagn et al. determined the solution structure of the C-terminal NR domain of the dragline silk protein fibroin 3 from the common orb-weaver Araneus diadematus. They observe a conformational switch, activated by chemical or mechanical stimuli, between storage and assembly forms of the protein.

Suggested Citation

  • Franz Hagn & Lukas Eisoldt & John G. Hardy & Charlotte Vendrely & Murray Coles & Thomas Scheibel & Horst Kessler, 2010. "A conserved spider silk domain acts as a molecular switch that controls fibre assembly," Nature, Nature, vol. 465(7295), pages 239-242, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:465:y:2010:i:7295:d:10.1038_nature08936
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08936
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    Cited by:

    1. Jingyao Li & Bojing Jiang & Xinyuan Chang & Han Yu & Yichao Han & Fuzhong Zhang, 2023. "Bi-terminal fusion of intrinsically-disordered mussel foot protein fragments boosts mechanical strength for protein fibers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Chenchen Wu & Yu Duan & Lintao Yu & Yao Hu & Chenxi Zhao & Chunwang Ji & Xiangdong Guo & Shu Zhang & Xiaokang Dai & Puyi Ma & Qian Wang & Shengjie Ling & Xiaoxia Yang & Qing Dai, 2024. "In-situ observation of silk nanofibril assembly via graphene plasmonic infrared sensor," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Tina Arndt & Kristaps Jaudzems & Olga Shilkova & Juanita Francis & Mathias Johansson & Peter R. Laity & Cagla Sahin & Urmimala Chatterjee & Nina Kronqvist & Edgar Barajas-Ledesma & Rakesh Kumar & Gefe, 2022. "Spidroin N-terminal domain forms amyloid-like fibril based hydrogels and provides a protein immobilization platform," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Danilo Hirabae Oliveira & Vasantha Gowda & Tobias Sparrman & Linnea Gustafsson & Rodrigo Sanches Pires & Christian Riekel & Andreas Barth & Christofer Lendel & My Hedhammar, 2024. "Structural conversion of the spidroin C-terminal domain during assembly of spider silk fibers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Jianming Chen & Arata Tsuchida & Ali D. Malay & Kousuke Tsuchiya & Hiroyasu Masunaga & Yui Tsuji & Mako Kuzumoto & Kenji Urayama & Hirofumi Shintaku & Keiji Numata, 2024. "Replicating shear-mediated self-assembly of spider silk through microfluidics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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